Lukasz Fabianski says both West Ham United and his former club Arsenal will have plenty to prove when they take to the pitch at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The Hammers goalkeeper, who made 78 appearances for the Gunners between 2007 and 2014, has suffered defeats on each of his opening two appearances in Claret and Blue as new manager Manuel Pellegrini seeks to implement his methods in east London.
Arsenal have also been beaten in their first two Premier League matches under their own new man in charge, Unai Emery, and the Poland international expects both squads to be focused on putting on improved performances this weekend.
Saturday’s game will be a completely different game, a new challenge and both teams will want to show what happened in their first two games is not the look of their club
Lukasz Fabianski
“I don’t think any game in the Premier League is easier because someone had a bad result or is in a bad run of results,” said the No1. “It doesn’t matter what happened in the previous two games. This game is a different challenge and you can’t underestimate any opponent.
“Saturday’s game will be a completely different game, a new challenge and both teams will want to show what happened in their first two games is not the look of their club and will look to show their fans they are better than what has happened so far.”
Fabianski has played against his former employers eight times since leaving Arsenal for Swansea City in 2014, finishing on the winning and losing team on four occasions each.
The 33-year-old will always be thankful for the opportunity the Gunners gave him, but any sentimentality he felt has long since evaporated.
“Being there for seven years, it was quite a bit part of my football life. Coming from the Polish league right into a massive club like Arsenal in the Premier League, one of the most competitive leagues in the world, was a big step for me.
“I’m will always be thankful for the opportunity Arsenal gave to me, but it’s now been four years since I left them, so there have been many changes over there and there are not many people left who I played with or even worked under.
“I’ve got some good memories and I made so many friendships over there, but time moves on and people move on and I’m now at a different stage of my life. I’ve always had a good reception there, so I hope that’s not going to change.”
Talking of change, both clubs have undergone major overhauls in the summer, with Fabianski among nine new faces to arrive at London Stadium as part of Pellegrini’s new-look squad.
A few miles away, Arsenal have also revamped both their coaching and playing staffs. While he is no longer a Gunner, the goalkeeper is eager to see how things pan out in N7.
“It’s a massive change for them,” he observed. “Before what happened this summer, when you thought of Arsenal, you thought of Arsene Wenger.
“To see him going after such a long time is something strange, but that’s the way football works. The time came and people decided to make a change.
“He was very loyal to the club and one of the most successful managers in Arsenal’s history, but they decided to go with a different approach there as well.
“They now have a completely new project and are trying to do something else. It’s interesting to see such a change at such a big club, but that’s football life.”